Canadahistory.com Fathers of Confederation | Maritime Union | George Brown | Pan Federalism | US Civil War | Canada's Proposals | St Lawrence Cruise | Charlottetown | The Quebec Conference | The London Conference | July 1st 1867 July 1, 1867 was a sunny day right across the country. At midnight of June 30th, the order was given to let the bells loose and the church towers across Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick rang out. In all of the major centres the Queen's proclamation was read out followed by parades and celebrations. An 101 gun salute also shook the area around Ottawa in honour of the occasion. July 1st, 1867 - Canada Ottawa was the site which witnessed the birth of a new country as the ceremonies were initiated in the new capital of Canada, an old logging operation along the Ottawa River which took the name of the River as it's own. The location was a compromise choice which signalled a new beginning for the four provinces which now formed Canada.

The location which was in the Northwest part of the four provinces may have indicated the immense expansion which was to take place over the next 10 years to the Pacific Coast. The New Parliament Buildings Lord Monck became the first Governor General of Canada and as his first official duty he swore in John A Macdonald as the first Prime Minister, William McDougall, E.P. Howland, Tilley, Cartier and Galt as Finance Minister. Macdonald was made a Knight Commander of Bath by order of Queen Victoria and the other were made Companions of the Bath. By noon the official part of Canada on the day of its birth. The celebrations went on well into the evening with lights, lamps, bonfires and fireworks lighting the parties and the sky. The great deal had been done and the colonies had been brought together as one state with responsible government in the form of the Canadian Parliament. George Cartier John A Macdonald The new country consisted of approximately 3,300,00 million citizens. mainly in Ontario, with about 42% being of the Catholic faith. (Mainly of French and Irish descent) Most of the others were of English Protestant descent.

About 81% of the people lived on farms or in the countryside with industry being only a minor part of the overall economy. Montreal was the largest city with about 100,000 people and then came Toronto and Quebec City with about 60,000 each and Ottawa at about 17,000. Ottawa 1867 John A. Macdonald became the first Prime Minister of Canada due to his tireless efforts in uniting the former British Colonies and his unerring ability to glean a compromised solution from the process of creating Canada as he pushed the union along. He was also Knighted by Queen Victoria and took his seat in Parliament as the leader of the party with the majority of members. This was the beginning of Canada and the jumping off point in what was to become known as the Macdonald era in Canadian politics. A time to Celebrate Actual elections were held on September 18th, 1867 and on November 7th, 1867 Parliament convened with John A Macdonald as the victorious Prime Minister.

John A Macdonald | Alexander Mackenzie | John Abbott | John Thompson | Mackenzie Bowell | Charles Tupper | Wilfred Laurier | Robert Borden | Arthur Meighen | William Lyon Mackenzie King | RB Bennett | Louis St Laurent | John Diefenbaker | Lester Pearson | Pierre Trudeau | Joe Clark | John Turner | Brian Mulroney | Kim Campbell | Jean Chretien | Paul Martin | Stephen Harper The first Prime Minister of Canada was truly a founding father. Instrumental in the politics of Upper and Lower Canada he helped bring the provinces of Upper and lower Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick together in 1867 to form Canada. He then brought British Columbia, PEI, and the great North West Territories into the Canadian Federation. A Scottish highlander, and proud of it, he was a master of recognizing the human condition and dealing with it in whatever form was required. His wisdom in politics and his passion for Canada served to drive him and his ambitions for the country at an astounding pace.

His main accomplishments as Prime Minister of Canada also include the building of the Trans-Canadian railroad, his deft handling of relations with the United States, rising to the challenge of the Northwest rebellion and his balancing of French and English interests in acceptable terms for most. His private life was full of tragedy and sorrow. He watched for more then a decade while his first wife, desperately ill, died slowly. His son died as a baby and his daughter was born with Hydrocephalus which caused a swelling of the brain and brain damage. He would return late at night from a session in the commons to hold and rock his little baby girl to sleep. It is little wonder, in his day and age, that he sometimes turned to the bottle for solace. The public however was quite tolerant of his indulgence and Macdonald himself often claimed that the public quite frankly preferred John A. drunk to his enemies sober. During a campaign speech, after a particularly long evening he was unable to hold his own and threw up on the back of the platform.

His opponent pointed and said "Is this the man you want running your country, a drunker." Macdonald pulled himself together and stood up for his rebuttal and quietly said " I get sick sometimes not because of drink or any other cause, except that I am forced to listen to the ranting of my honourable opponent." Macdonald’s family left Glasgow Scotland in 1820 and emigrated to Kingston Ontario. He grew up under stressful financial circumstances and by fifteen was out working and soon thereafter was articling at a law firm. He answered the call in 1837 when William Lyon Mackenzie lead the march on York and tried to upset the family compact. In 1840 when Upper and Lower Canada set up a joint legislative assembly, Macdonald opposed this union and also spoke out against expanding the union to the Maritimes. He joined the joint Canadian parliament in 1843 and supported the conservative forces in the house. Macdonald realized that the governing power in the joint Canada House would have to be a wide coalition of interests and beliefs.

Macdonald’s great opponent, George Brown led the Clear Grits, "all sand and no dirt, clear all the way through." He was an anti-papist and hence never gained much support from Lower Canada. Macdonald was very open to dealing and ruling with the Lower Canadian population, be they English or French. He developed a great ally in George Etienne Cartier who led the Lower Canadian section of their party supporters. By 1864 the forces, which would lead to the greater Canadian Confederation, were well under way. The American Civil War raged across the great landscape of the United States and the political philosophy of American federalism was becoming well established. It also presented the British Colonies in North America with a frightening specter of a huge standing army south of the boarder that could easily roll into Canada and the Maritimes and swallow them up with little trouble. There were many in the United States who felt that this should be done and that it was the ‘Manifest Destiny’ of the United States to take over all of North America. In 1864 Macdonald’s conservative government was defeated in the house and the Governor, Lord Monck, was ready to dissolve the assembly.

George Brown at that point rose to the occasion and offered Macdonald the opportunity to forma coalition government. The offer was accepted under the leadership of Sir Etienne Tache and the movement towards confederation had begun. The leaders of the movement, with John A Macdonald at the forefront sailed to Prince Edward Island in 1864 and meet with the maritime leaders who themselves were looking at their own union. With Champaign and banqueting as their allies, Macdonald and company managed to convince enough of those assembled at Charlottetown that a grander Canadian Union would be the answer. They agreed to reassemble at Quebec City and the Quebec resolutions were hammered out which would form the basis of the new Canadian Confederation or the British North America Act. Although Macdonald was a late convert to federalism he did become its main supporter. Macdonald’s influence is reflected throughout the documents and most of it is in fact written in his hand. He and his colleagues tried to learn from the American experience what not to do and come up with a better option.

In 1865 Macdonald, Brown and several other of the fathers of confederation set sail for England where they meet with the Queen, partied often and worked to get the required acts passed in Westminster. In the meantime an Irish group known as the Fenians invaded Canada from the United States on June 1st, 1866. They were determined to recruit the Canadians to their cause and create an anti-British nation in North America. These invaders were quickly forced back across the boarder but the result of their invasion was to so infuriate Canadians and inflame anti-American feelings that New Brunswick and Nova Scotia quickly approved of the move towards confederation and during the spring of 1866 the British Parliament passed the British North America Act and set July 1st, 1867 as the date when the new nation would come into being. Macdonald was chosen as the obvious man to become the first Prime Minister and was proclaimed Knight Commander of the Bath and hence became Sir John A. Macdonald. On July 1st, 1867 Sir John A. Macdonald and his wife led the ceremonies which official oversaw the birth of Canada in the sleepy lumber tow of Ottawa.

During the summer of 1867 Sir John A. Macdonald easily won the national election against his rival George Brown. In November of 1867 Macdonald at the age of 52 opened the first Canadian Parliament in Ottawa. Macdonald’s first year was spent overcoming the anti-federalism of Joseph Howe and winning them over to the idea that Canada was going to make it. He recruited Howe into his cabinet and secured the support of the Maritimes for the great Canadian experiment. William McDougall set in motion a process whereby Canada formally requested that Rupert’s land be awarded to Canada as a part of the new nation. The United States was anxious to purchase the land which had belonged to the Hudson’s Bay Company since 1670 and offered the British Government $10,000,000 for it. The Canadian Government eventually did buy it for £300,000 and Sir John A. Macdonald found himself and his country with an additional 1/3 of the North American continent added to Canada. Macdonald appointed William McDougal as the Lieutenant Governor of the huge territory and he set out for the Red River settlement to establish his authority.

The Métis in the settlement did not accept the transaction of their land by the British government to Canada and decided to set up their own government. This action was lead by the fiery Métis leader Louis Riel. This situation developed into one of the most challenging of Macdonald’s political career. He refused to deal with Riel and instead of recruiting him into the great Canadian experiment, Macdonald dealt with him as a rebel and thus the Red River Rebellion began. The interest of the United States in the area forced the Canadian Government to act and Macdonald sent Donald Smith west to offer inducements to the settlement and its leaders to join Canada on a friendly basis. Unfortunately events out ran the arrival of Smith and an Anglo Saxon settler named Thomas Scott tried to strangle Riel and was sentenced to death for his act. He was shot by a firing squad. The population of Ontario reacted immediately and about 12,000 volunteers headed west to capture the Métis rebels and serve them with frontier justice. Riel fled and the settlement was safely cooped into Canada and in 1870 the province of Manitoba was officially formed.

Macdonald offered Riel £1000 to stay away but he did return and in 1874 was elected to the Canadian Parliament. Macdonald considered him a clever fellow and Riel even managed an appearance in Ottawa at the House of Commons. Macdonald’s next step was to bring British Columbia into Confederation. BC had been inundated with American prospectors during the Barkerville gold rush in the 1850’s and quick action by Governor Douglas brought the colonies of Vancouver Island and the mainland together as the British Colony of British Columbia in 1866. BC was cut off from the rest of Canada by the mountains and a large number of its inhabitants were pushing for joining the United States. Macdonald, as shrew as he could be, offered the people of BC a link to the east by railroad as an inducement to joining Canada. The deal was done and the railway issue became the one overwhelming project of the remainder of his career. Macdonald’s personal problems once again began to overtake his political challenges. By this time it had become quite clear that their child Mary was retarded and she would never be able to lead a normal life.

Macdonald deeply in debt and not sure if he would be able to support his family began to drink heavily again. In 1870 Macdonald had to pull himself together to once again face the problem of living next to the United States. The British North America Act had granted Canada the right to control its internal affairs, but foreign affairs were still handled by the British Authorities. The United States decide to cancel the reciprocal across-the-boarder trade agreement, Canada responded by cancelling U.S. fishing rights in Canadian waters. That year saw four small Canadian vessels seize several hundred American fishing boats for trespassing in Canadian waters. This crisis lead to a conference in Washington where all of the issues left over from the Civil War were to be resolved. Sir John A. was included as a member of the British delegation and quickly become disliked by the American and British delegates because of his protection of Canadian interests. He won compensation from the British for the Fenian raids and conceded fishing rights to the Americans in Canadian waters for ten years. The pursuit of an investor's group which would be able to build a trans-Canadian railway led to the development of questionable relationships with a consortium which also contributed heavily to the Conservative party and Macdonald's Quebec lieutenant Cartier.

The resultant scandal forced Macdonald to call an election in 1874 which he lost to the Liberal party under Alexander Mackenzie. Luckily for Macdonald the Liberal term of office coincided with a difficult recession in Canada. By 1878, the country was again ready to give Macdonald a chance and the Conservatives were re-elected with a clear majority. Macdonald quickly took advantage of this second chance at power to once again ask for bids to build the railroad across the country. The Canadian pacific was awarded to right to build the railway in 1880 and were given 10 years to complete it. By November 1885 the last spike of the railway was driven at Cragellachie by Donald Smith. Macdonald won re-election 3 more times and developed a what has become know as the national policy which rested on the three themes of the transcontinental railway, immigration form Europe for Manitoba and the North West Territories which would buy supplies from Eastern Canada and the growth of the farms in the West which would sell their foodstuffs to Eastern Canada. By 1891 Macdonald conducted his last campaign and won a majority for the Conservatives.

The election had however, taken to much out of him and on June 6th, 1891 he passed away in Ottawa and the Father of Canada was universally mourned by Canada and the British Empire. 1000+ images about Sir John A. Macdonald on Pinterest | Ontario, Canada and Canadian dollar Forward Sir John A MacDonald. How little we know of the past, the people, the country, the politics. The victor has the upper hand in that he/she fills the history books. In Canada, our leaders were chosen from a pool of men across a large ocean, not for their ability to deal with problems of a new country but rather how far up the ladder they had climbed socially or economically. That’s how the Fathers of Confederation of Canada found their way here. They brought with them educated minds and a… 1 A Brief History of Canada - 1867 to 1899 1867 to 1899 1867 - Confederation British colonies in North America are united under the British North American Act to become the Dominion of Canada. The Act, drafted by John A.

Macdonald and signed on May 8, became effective on July 1, 1867. (See photo of the Fathers of Confederation ) Despite anti-confederation sentiments in Nova Scotia, future prime minister Charles Tupper convinced Nova Scotia to join the Dominion. Sir John A. Macdonald was appointed as Canada's first Prime Minister and won the election in August. (read Macdonald's biography ) Ottawa was named the Capital City of the Dominion. 1868 One of the Fathers of Confederation, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, became the first Canadian victim of an assassination on April 7. McGee was a very outspoken enemy of the Fenians (see 1859 & 1866) and died at their hands. 1869 Canada purchased Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay Company. The purchase threatened western livelyhood and, in November of that same year, Louis Riel lead the Métis in an attack against Fort Garry (the site of present-day Winnipeg, Manitoba) and occupied it. This protest would come to be known as The Red River Rebellion 1870's Before this decade, the demand for leather goods became greater each passing year.

During the 70's, the northern herds of bison were virtually wiped out which ultimately lead to the collapse of the western Aboriginal economy and livelyhood. The Natives, who depended on the bison for everything from food to clothing suddenly found themselves at the mercy of the eastern 'new-comers'. The Red River Rebellion continued to challenge Canadian authority in the northwest. Canada declared a provisional government in January, but the government was ousted by General Wolsely in August. The Manitoba Act created the new province of Manitoba out of the Red River Settlement, effectively suppressing the rebellion. Future prime minister Richard Bennett was born in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick, on July 3. (see 1930) 1871 British Columbia joined confederation on July 20. Prime Minister Macdonald began the construction of the Intercolonial Railroad. 1873 Prince Edward Island joined Confederation. Meanwhile, the new country was hit with a period of economic depression. Prime Minister John A. Macdonald created the North-West Mounted Police (later to become the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or RCMP) to bring law to the territories.

However, the Pacific Scandal in which evidence (stolen from future prime minister John Abbott's office) proved that Sir Hugh Allan had made huge campaign contributions to Macdonald's government in exchange for an exclusive charter to build the Canadian Pacific Railway (a.k.a. Canadian Pacific Railroad), forcing Macdonald's resignation on November 5. Liberal Alexander Mackenzie became Canada's second prime minister. (read Mackenzie's biography ) 1874 PM Mackenzie reformed the electoral system, introducing the secret ballot. He also founded the Royal Military College in present-day Kingston. By an Act of Parliament, the groundwork was set for the academy. The doors opened on June 1, 1876, attended by the first class of 'Old Eighteen' gentlemen cadets. In 1878, Queen Victoria gave her consent to allow the college to add the prefix 'Royal' to its name. Meanwhile, Louis Riel was elected to the House of Commons in February but was denied the seat as a result of his involvement in the Red River Rebellion. On July 26, Alexander Graham Bell displayed his new invention, the telephone, to his family on the outskirts of Brantford, Ontario.

Anabaptists (Russian Mennonites) began to arrive in Manitoba from various Russian colonies on the west coast of North America. Future prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King was born in Berlin (Kitchener), Ontario, on December 17. (see 1921 & 1926 & 1935) 1875 Riel was granted amnesty by parliament with the condition that he be banished from Canada for 5 years. PM Mackenzie established the Surpreme Court of Canada. Bell demonstrates the first functioning telephone in Boston in June. Jennie Trout became the first female licensed to practice medicine in Canada. (Emily Stowe had been practicing in Toronto without a license since 1867.) Grace Lockhart graduated from Mount Allison University with the first Bachelor of Arts degree awarded to a female. 1876 The Intercolonial Railway was completed, linking the Maritimes with central Canada. The Pacific Line, which would unite the new nation, was soon begun. The world's first long-distance telephone call took place on August 10, connecting Alexander Graham Bell's home with a boot store in nearby Paris, Ontario.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Women's Literary Club, which was actually a front for the women's suffrage movement was founded. (see 1873) 1877 Manitoba provincial legislature created the University of Manitoba, the oldest University in western Canada. Canadian doctor, Dr. Leonora Howard King, opened a hospital for Chinese women and children in Tienstin (now Tianjin), southwest of Beijing, where she worked selflessly for 47 years until her death in 1927. (China's Empress Dowager, the guardian of the infant emperor, awarded her the Imperial Order of the Double Dragon.) 1878 John A. Macdonaldwas re-elected. Meanwhile, in British Columbia, anti-Chinese sentiment escalated, reaching a high point when the government banned Chinese workers from entering the public services. 1879 Macdonald's National Policy, set forth on March 12, introduced tariffs which would protect Canadian trade goods, a transcontinental railway system, and immigration to the west. Future prime minister Charles Tupper began construction of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. 1880 First performance of 'O Canada', composed by Calixa Lavallée for the St. Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations.

(Detailed history of ' O Canada ') The French lyrics were a poem written by Judge Adolphe-Basile Routhier and remain unchanged to this day. Emily Stowe was finally granted a license to practice medicine legally in Toronto. 1880-1884 Thousands of underpaid Chinese labourers were hired by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) to lay the tracks through the Rocky Mountains. The work was dangerous and casualties were high. As the story goes, 'There is one dead Chinese for every mile of track.' 1882 Future prime minister Louis St. Laurent was born in Compton, Québec, on February 1. (see 1948) 1883 Louis Riel became an American citizen in Montana. Augusta Stowe (daughter of Emily Stowe), became the first woman to graduate from the Toronto Medical School. Meanwhile, the Literary Club of 1876 officially became the Toronto Women's Suffrage Association North American railroads adopted Standard Time, created by Canadian Sir Sanford Flemming. (Standard time was soon adopted around the world.) 1884 Louis Rien returned to Canada to lead the North-West Rebellion.

1885 The Métis were defeated at Bacoche, ending a seven-day battle from May 2'nd to May 9'th. Louis Riel was captured and returned to Regina to stand trial for his treason. Riel was hanged on November 16. The last spike of the transcontinental railway was pounded into place in Eagle Pass, British Columbia, on November 7, joining Canada from coast to coast with a 'ribbon of steel'. Canada's first National Park was created at Banff, Alberta. 1887 Wilfrid Laurier was elected by the Liberals as Party Leader. Meanwhile, the first provincial Premiers' conference took place in Québec City. 1890 The Liberals in Manitoba under Thomas Greenway halted public funding of Catholic schools in March, laying the groundwork for the controversial Manitoba Schools Question which would plaque the governments for years to come. (see 1895) Meanwhile, Canadian Isaac Shupe invented a rather curious sheet-metal scrubber that automatically lathered with soap. 1891 Sir John A. Macdonald won his fourth consecutive election in March and died less than 3 months later on June 6 while still in office.

Conservative John Abbott was elected prime minister following Macdonald's death. (read Abbott's biography ) The first game of basketball, created by Canadian James Naismith (Almont, Ontario), was played in Springfield, Massachusetts. The final score was 1-0. 1892 Conservative John Thompson succeeded John Abbott as prime minister following Abbott's retirement due to failing health. (read Thompson's biography ) PM John Thompson created the Canadian Criminal Code. Former prime minister Mackenzie King died on April 17. PM John Abbott resigned due to poor health. 1893 The National Council of Women of Canada was founded. Former prime minister John Abbott died on October 30. 1894 Future prime minister Arthur Meighen was born in Anderson, Ontario, on June 16. (see 1920 & 1926) Prime Minister John Thompson died (in office) on December 12 at Windsor Castle in England. Held in fond esteem by Queen Victoria, a requiem mass was held for Thompson in Windsor. Thompson was then returned to Halifax for burial aboard the battleship HMS Blenheim, which had been painted black for the occasion.

Conservative Mackenzie Bowell became prime minister following John Thompson's death. (read Bowell's biography ) 1895 In June, PM Mackenzie Bowell drafted legislation which would force Manitoba to reinstate funding of Catholic Schools under the British North America Act, but Cabinet opposition forced Bowell to postpone the issue for 6 months. The Yukon was created as a provisional district separate from the Northwest Territories. (see 1898) Future prime minister John Diefenbaker was born in Neustadt, Ontario, on September 18. (see 1957) 1896 The economic depression came to an end. By January, the Cabinet was questioning PM Mackenzie Bowell's competence. Seven ministers resigned in order to force Bowell into stepping down as prime minister. The Cabinet also prevented Bowell from replacing his ministers and the government fell into crisis. The Governor General The Earl of Aberdeen intervened and reinstated 6 ministers and Charles Tupper joined the cabinet and assumed virtual control of the party. Bowell resigned in favour of Charles Tupper and remained in the Senate until his death. Conservative Charles Tupper became prime minister following Bowell's resignation.

(read Tupper's biography ) However, Tupper was forced to call an immediate election and, despite a vigorous and aggressive campaign, Tupper lost to Liberal Wilfrid Laurier. Tupper's reign as prime minister was the shortest in Canadian history Liberal Wilfrid Laurier won the federal election based mainly on his proposed compromises in the Manitoba Schools Question. Laurier was the first French-Canadian prime minister. (read Laurier's biography ) Gold was discovered in the Klondike on August 16. 1897 Future prime minister Lester B. Pearson was born on April 23 in Newton Brook, Ontario. (see 1963) Laurier's 'Manitoba Schools Question' compromises were initiated. Meanwhile, L. T. Snow received a patent for a simple mechanical meat grinder he had invented. 1898 Fortune-seakers flocked to the Klondike. Meanwhile, Doukhobours began to settle in Saskatchewan. The Yukon was identified as a separate and new territory. 1899 Canada entered the Boer War in South Africa (October 30) when the first Canadian troops were sent overseas. Meanwhile, Canada's first female lawyer, Clara Brett Martin, began to practice law.

Sir John A. Macdonald 1867-1873 1878-1891 Liberal-Conservative "When fortune empties her chamberpot on your head, smile - and say 'we are going to have a summer shower'." Sir John A. Macdonald, circa 1875 Sir John A. Macdonald was to become Canada's first Prime Minister. Private Life Did You Know? Macdonald was a Private in the militia and participated in the 1837 raid on Montgomery's Tavern, a well-known meeting place for rebels and their supporters against Britain. Ironically, Macdonald the lawyer would later defend several of these rebels in court. Born: Glasgow, Scotland. January 11, 1815. Emigrated to the Province of Canada in 1820. Education: Midland District Grammar School and John Cruickshank School in Kingston, Ontario. Called to the Bar of Upper Canada in 1836. Articled (contracted) with a Kingston lawyer at 15 years of age. Had his own legal practice by age of 19.

Marriage: Isabella Clark (1811-1856) in 1843. Two sons born (one died in infancy). Re-Marriage: Susan Agnes Bernhard (1836-1920) in 1867. One daughter born. (She suffered 'hydrocephaly' which left her both mentally and physically handicapped.) Died: June 6, 1891 of heart failure while still in office. Buried in Cataraqui Cemetery near Kingston, Ontario. Political Career Did You Know? Macdonald's political career was marred by a well-publicized drinking problem. He would often drink throughout meetings and often forgot the proceedings of the day. The Hon. George Brown, founder of The Globe (now Globe and Mail) newspaper, was Macdonald's arch enemy and, whenever Macdonald went on a binge, Brown printed a 'sick' notice in his paper. Introduced to politics in 1843 when he served as city alderman in Kingston, Ontario.

Constituencies: Kingston, Ontario, 1867-1878, 1887-1891; Victoria, British Columbia, 1878-1882; Carleton, Ontario, 1882-1887. Elected Conservative representative for Kingston in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1844. Receiver General for the Province of Canada, 1847-1848. Attorney General for Canada West, 1854-1858, 1858-1862, 1864-1867. Joint Premier with Etienne-Paschal Tache for the Province of Canada, 1856-1857. Joint Premier with George-Etienne Cartier for the Province of Canada, 1857-1858, 1858-1862. Minister of Militia Affairs, 1861-1862, 1865-1867.

Co-leader of the Great Coalition with George-Etienne Cartied and George Brown, 1864-1865; Co-leader with George-Etienne Cartier, 1865-1867, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, 1867-1873. Prosperous Maritime provinces feared that Confederation would weaken their autonomy. Canada East (Quebec) feared that Confederation would dilute French-Canadian interests. The American Civil War, and the Fenian Raids of 1866 and an aggressive American foreign policy caused concern about the future of the colony. Allied with his political rival and Opposition leader, George Brown, to finalize Confederation. Drafted the British North American Act which defined the federal system by which Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia were united into the Dominion of Canada. BNA signed on May 8, 1867 and became effective July 1, 1867. Appointed Prime Minister of Canada and won the first federal election one month later. Did You Know? The Fathers of Confederation originally wanted to name their new country 'The Kingdom of Canada'.

However, the United States still harboured ill-feelings toward the word 'kingdom' following their battle for independence against King George III and 'The Dominion of Canada' was selected instead. Liberal-Conservative Party Leader (forerunner of the Conservative Party), 1867-1891. To unite the new nation, Macdonald began the Intercolonial Railway which ran from Halifax to the Pacific coast and included Canada's two newest provinces, British Columbia and Manitoba, and the North-West Territories in 1871. Initiated tariffs protecting Canadian products from foreign imports, especially from the United States, to boost Canadian economy. Created the North West Mounted Police in 1873. Questionable deals between the Conservatives and the railway syndicate lead to the Pacific Scandal in 1873. Macdonald was forced to resign and lost the election in 1874. Leader of the Opposition, 1873-1878. Re-elected in 1878. Minister of the Interior, 1878-1883.

Superintendant General of Indian Affairs, 1878-1887, Created Canada's first national park at Banff, Alberta, in 1885. Poorly-handled North-West Rebellion in 1885 and the execution of Louis Riel outraged French-Canadians. Antagonism between French- and English- Canadians lasted for years. Minister of Railways and Canals, 1889-1891. Won 4'th consecutive election in March 1891 and died 3 months later on June 6, 1891, while still in office. *(Progressive) Conservative *Liberal *Unionist/Conservative Prime Ministers Of Canada Through History - WorldAtlas.com Society Prime Ministers Of Canada Through History Since 1867, 22 men and 1 woman have led Canada through some of the best of times and some of the worst of times. Justin Trudeau, Liberal Party Member of Parliament for Papineau, Quebec, and the 23rd and current Prime Minister of Canada. The Canadian Prime Minister serves as the Canadian Head of Government.

The official also serves as the Minister of the Crown, and the Governor General of Canada appoints the position. The appointment must have the support of a majority within the House of Commons. Canada has had 23 different people serve as Prime Minister since July of 1867. This article will take a look at the accomplishments and political careers of some of them. Notable Prime Ministers Sir John A. Macdonald, 1st PM of Canada Sir John A. Macdonald was the first Prime Minister of Canada. He served from July of 1867 until November of 1873, and again from October of 1878 until June of 1891. During his time in office, he fostered the construction of a Transcontinental Railroad. The railroad became a central focus of the first Canadian government as a means of stimulating economic growth to avoid the mass emigration of its people to the United States. He also pioneered the plan that secured the transfer of Rupert’s Land and the Northwestern Territories to Canada, thus allowing the nation's borders to reach from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier, 7th PM of Canada Sir Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister and served from July 11th, 1896 until October 6th, 1911. He was the first french speaking person to hold the position. He is responsible for expanding the country and negotiating a compromise between French and English Canada. He also signed the Naval Service Bill of 1910 which created the first Naval Service. William Lyon Mackenzie King, 10th PM of Canada The tenth Prime Minister of Canada was William Lyon Mackenzie King. Prime Minister King implemented relief acts in response to the Great Depression. These programs were the National Housing Act and the National Employment Commission. He saw the country through World War II, helped found the United Nations in 1945, and was the longest serving official in the history of Canada. Kim Campbell, Canada's First Female PM Next on the list of notable Canadian Prime Ministers is Kim Campbell who has the distinction of being the first woman to serve in the office. She only served from June 25, 1993 until November 4, 1993.

During her brief time as Prime Minister, however, she achieved significant change. She consolidated the Ministries into Health, Canadian Heritage, and Public Security and cut the number of ministers from 35 to 23. Her appointment into office was just 4 short months prior to the 1993 election and although she was a popular Prime Minister, her party lost the election and she lost her seat as Prime Minister. Summary of the Canadian Prime Minister Position Interestingly enough, this office is not defined in any Canadian constitutional document. The Prime Minister and its functions are modeled after the same position in England. Generally speaking, the Prime Minister has always been someone who has served in Parliament, though this is not always the case. The position has neither age nor citizenship restrictions. As noted in the previous list, term limits are not defined and the person in power is to advise the Crown on how to execute the Royal Prerogative. The history of Prime Ministers in Canada is quite unique and full of interesting facts. Those Prime Ministers mentioned in the list have accomplished significant achievements for their country and their legacies will live on for the ages to come.

Prime Ministers Of Canada Through History Prime Ministers Of Canada Early Canada Historical Narratives -- FATHERS OF CONFEDERATION The Life - and Tragic Death - of Canada's Most Colourful Father McGee's life was from the start a combination of dramatic changes and close calls. At the age of thirty-two McGee moved his family and himself to Montreal. That same fall the Irish vote elected him to Canada's legislature. Somewhere along the line he had fallen in love with his adopted country. Whatever he clasped he embraced with a consuming affection and he became converted to Confederation. In the Legislative Assembly of Canada on February 9, 1865 McGee reminded those French Canadians opposed to the new federation of the following. "I will remind them that every one of the colonies we now propose to re-unite under one rule - in which that shall have a potential vote - were once before united as New France. Newfoundland the uttermost, was theirs; Cape Breton was their tills the final fall of Louisbourg; Prince Edward Island was their island of St. Jean and Charlottetown was their Port la Joie; in the heart of Nova Scotia was the fair Acadian land.

In New Brunswick there is more than one county, especially in the north where business and law and politics require a knowledge of both English and French. Well gentlemen of French origin, we propose to restore these long-lost compatriots to your protection in the federal union which will recognize equally both languages." Best known of all to the Maritime hosts was the little, elfin Irishman, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, "the most gifted orator ever to sit in Canada's Parliament". McGee, the gifted poet-politician spoke in terms of the need for a national vision. "I see in the not remote distance one great nationality bound like the shield of Achilles, by the blue rim of ocean ... I see within the ground of that shield the peaks of the western mountains and the crests of the eastern waves." He and his hundred friends had pleaded and preached and joked for a year before the cause of union. He would discover now if the seed had taken root. McGee, an Irishman did not support the Fenian movement at a time when most Irishmen did. The movement's members thought he had "gone over" to the British cause which opposed their ultimate aim: the independence for Ireland.

In fact, McGee was an ardent supporter of Irish nationalism, but he opposed the movement on two grounds. First, he objected to republican programme for Ireland and urged the Irish to adopt the Canadian model of self-government within the British Empire. Second, he opposed the call to violence advocated by the Fenians. McGee attacked the Fenian plan to invade British America and called on the Irish in Canada to "give the highest practical proof possible that an Irishman well governed becomes one of the best subjects of the law and the Sovereign." On a trip to Ireland, McGee gave a speech in which he described his behaviour during his earlier years when he "was an Irish rebel" as "the follies of one and twenty." To the fanatical Fenians McGee was accused of being a turncoat and a traitor to the Irish cause. By 1866 McGee's political star was fading. He did not attend the London conference leading to confederation, but was elected to the country's first House of Commons in 1867 by a slim majority. He was not, however, included in Macdonald's first post-Confederation Cabinet.

By 1868 McGee was planning to leave politics to spend more time on his writing and poetry. John A. Macdonald promised him a civil service post but McGee was dead before the appointment was made. On April 7, 1868 McGee attended a late-night session in the House of Commons where he gave a speech in favour of national unity which was impassioned and showed much of his fiery forcefulness. Returning to his rooming house on Spark Street in the early hours of the morning he took out his key and put it into the latch keyhole to let himself in. At that instant there was a sudden flash and a sharp blast of a shot right behind him. He stumbled to his right, shuddered, threw his head back high and fell on his back as blood streamed onto the road from his upturned head. Several people came running to the scene. Learning of the assassination, John A. MacDonald raced to Mrs. Trotter's rooming house where he found McGee still lying in the road. He cradled his head while a friend lifted McGee's feet and together they carried him into the house.

When he returned to his home, Macdonald, his face a ghastly white, turned to his wife, Agnes, and said, "McGee was murdered 'tis true" She had never seen her husband so distraught. There was no sign of an assassin, no sign of a weapon. Nothing but the victim. McGee's assassin was Patrick James Whelan. He was caught and executed in what was the last public hanging in Canada. It is generally believed that McGee was the victim of a Fenian plot, however, Whelan was never proven to be a Fenian by the Crown prosecutor. "Reasons for Confederation are as thick as blackberries." D"Arcy McGee "If we are a generation worthy to organize a nation, assuredly the materials are abundant and are at hand." D'Arcy McGee "The euphonious word, Canada, has three vowels, not an unpleasant incident for tongue or pen. It is as old and quite as historical as the name America. Like the ice-shove in the St.

Lawrence before the magic breath of spring, so will cold sectional antagonism dissolve and disappear in the genial current of our great new State generously administered." D'Arcy McGee Thomas D'Arcy McGee McGee was given a state funeral a week later on his 43rd birthday. He was well liked and his funeral in his hometown of Montreal was a massive affair that reflected the new nation's shock at losing one of its founding fathers so soon. Reward for Apprehension of the Assassin of Thomas D'Arcy McGee State Funeral of Thomas D'Arcy McGee George Brown 1818-1880 George Brown was the formiddable editor of Toronto Globe. Born in Scotland Brown, a man in his middle twenties, came to Canada in 1843. He grew rich as the owner of the Globe which became the voice of the province. He was one of the founders of the anti-slavery movement in Ontario. He used his newspaper, The Globe, to attack the institution of slavery in the Southern US states. The Canadian Anti-Slavery Society, which was formed in Upper Canada in 1837, raised money for refugee relief.

Brown dreamed of the westward march of a mighty people and looked to a larger union than Canada West and Canada East to achieve his vision. Brown and Macdonald were bitter enemies, but in 1864 when a deadlock developed in the Assembly which prevented any legislative action, the two men agreed to join forces and form what became known as the Great Coalition. Joined by George Etienne Cartier and Alexander Galt, the coalition set out to achieve Confederation. George Brown handled constitutional concerns. Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt 1817-1893 Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt was born in England and came to Sherbrooke Quebec in 1835. He entered politics in 1853 representing Sherbrooke and was re-elected continually until 1867. He became Minister of Finance in the union government of the Canadas. Portly, handsome and rich, a landowner and railway builder whose dreams transcended money. They transcended the quarrels of race, religion and tongue. These divided Canada. What joined them? There was common allegiance to the British Crown. There was common hope of prospering on a mighty continent.

Galt had proposed a solution seven years before - a new federal union in which each province would be sovereign in its separate concerns yet commit its common concerns in a central government. Here was a plan that would promise them all freedom, diversity and a common will - partners in freedom and in purpose. The plan was older than Galt but he had given it life. It was slowly taking a grip on the minds of men. The tide of the times was stronger than them all. Samuel Leonard Tilley 1818- 1896 Born in Gagetown New Brunswick of United Empire Loyalist stock, Tilley entered politics and 1854 became provincial secretary in New Brunswick's first responsible cabinet. The office included the Finance portfolio. From 1861 he was also premier. In 1865 he called an election in which the primary issue was Confederation. The anti-confederation forces defeated him, but that party had no positive policies and soon began to flounder. The British governemt was anxious for Confederation to succeed and instructed the governor to "further the cause of union by every means in his power." Because the anti-confederation party was in extreme difficulty the governor called a new election.

Tilley's argument for union received a boost when Fenians raided various points on the New Brunswick border and his party swept back into office. His character and tenacity of purpose contributed greatly to convince the wavering province to commit itself finally to Confederation. Tilley attended both the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences. He was also present at the Westminster conference whch resulted in the British North America Act. Canada was designated a 'dominion' as a result of Tilley, the New Brunswick premier. Most of the Fathers of Confederation wanted to call their new creation the Kingdom of Canada. The British government, always sensitive to the possibility of offending the Americans, insisted on a different title. The religious Tilley turned to the Bible and found Psalm 72:8 - "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea." The new country became the Dominion of Canada. Tilley served in Macdonald's federal cabinet as minister of finance. He was described as statesman of ability, a gentleman in the best sense of the term.

Sir Etienne-Paschal Tache 1795-1865 Tache declared his dedication to Confederation and to Canada's membership in the British Empire with the famous utterance, "The last cannon which is shot on this continent in defence of Great Britain will be fired by the hand of a French Canadian." Tache fought for Britain and his homeland in the War of 1812 then became a leader in his medical profession and a leading Patriote. He sympathized with the rebels of 1837 but did not take up arms. He was an MPP (Member of the Provincial Parliament) and a legislative councillor 1848-65. He was co-premier with Macdonald (1855-57) and joined the Great Coalition in 1864 to pursue federal union and Confederation. Sir Charles Tupper 1821-1915 Charles Tupper was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia. After graduating with an M.D., Tupper rode the roads day and night ministering to the medical needs of Nova Scotia.

In 1855 he entered politics and in 1864 became Premier of Nova Scotia at the age of forty-three. The brash, blunt bulldog of a man had fought his way to power. He favoured a union of all the British in North America but faced strong opposition to the concept of Confederation. However, when Tilley, an avid advocate of confederation, was swept back into office in New Brunswick, Tupper took heart and issued a call to arms. He warned, "If we remain disunited, the time may come when we shall have the British flag lowered beneath the Stars and Stripes and the last gun will be fired from the Citadel as a British fort." Joseph Howe, a powerful politician in Nova Scotia, opposed confederation, fearing it would separate the colonies from Great Britain. He chose, he said, "London under the domination of John Bull, rather than Ottawa under the domination of Jack Frost." The Legislature listened to Charles Tupper and acted, authorizing Tupper and other delegates to attend the conference in London to discuss Confederation. Tupper was Prime Minister of Canada for ten weeks in 1896.

"No braver man ever led a party into battle and no more gallant fight was ever made to save a field than his in 1896." Later the government was defeated, but it was no fault of Tupper's. Westminster Conference The last of the confederation conferences took place on December 4, 1866 in London's Westminster Palace Hotel. It was so grand, it had an elevator. On Tuesday morning, December 4, 1866 six delegates of the Canadas sat down in London with five men from New Brunswick and the five from Nova Scotia. There were sixteen in London where there had been twenty-three in Charlottetown and thirty-three in Quebec. Fewer were required because many details had been reached and it remained now to give shape to the great decision. It was two years and three months since that September morning at Charlottetown. Much had changed in the interval. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland had been lost. No longer visionaries they had now entered the stream of history of nation-building.

The fundamentals of Confederation: Continued loyalty to the British Crown through membership in the British Empire; a strong central government within a federal union with representation in the lower house based on population and in the upper house based on regional representation. The provinces retained control over their own local affairs. A lawyer, business man, shrewd politician, the pragmatic visionary Macdonald drafted many of the resolutions presented to the Quebec Conference. which were various changes, the basis for the new constitution. A British official wrote: "Macdonald was the ruling genius and spokesman and I was greatly struck with his powers of management and adroitness." Macdonald had intended that the new nation be called the Kingdom of Canada, but just before the final versiion - there were seven drafts in all - the new nation became the Dominion of Canada. The change was made by the British prime minister who feared that the Americans would be offended for they had no love for monachies. Debate began on the bill ntroduced into the HOuse of Lords on February 19, 1867.

Lord Carnarvan began the debate by stating, " We are laying the foundation of a great State, perhaps one that at a future day may even overshadown this country." One February 26, it was introduced into the House of Commons and the British North America Act was approved without change on March 8. On March 29 it received Royal Assent and was signed by Queen Victoria. Canada emerged into the world as a confederation. John A. and Agnes arrived back in Ottawa, the country's new capital, in May 1867. The Parliament Buildings situated on Parliament Hill had just been completed. Their final cost had risen from the projected $688,505 to $4.5 million. The date for the Confederation celebrations was to be July 1. As that date approached, disturnbing news came from south of the border. The United States had purchased Alaska from Russia, whose Panhandle cut off much of northern British Columbia's access to the sea. American politicians then looked hungrily at what was left of the separate colony. They declared that nature designed the whole continent to be theirs. Macdonald feared BC would soon be annexed by the Yanks.

Macdonld saw only one remedy: confederation itself. July 1st was celebrated in Toronto with the roasting on Church Street of an immense ox purchased by public subscription. In this city and elsewhere across the land, fireworks, bonfires, parades and pride predominated. Let joy be unconfined; no sleep till morn when excited citizens happily heralded the existence of their new country - CANADA! Despite the fear of In 1867 Sir John A. Macdonald became the first prime minister of the new Dominion of Canada. As prime minister from 1867-73 and again from 1878-91, John A oversaw the building of our transcontinental railway. Canada would expand from sea to sea to sea.

Prime Minister John Diefenbaker Biography Appointed Ellen Fairclough the first Canadian woman federal cabinet minister 1957 Canadian Bill of Rights 1960 Vote extended to native peoples in Canada 1960 Royal Commission on Health Services 1961 Agriculture Rehabilitation and Development Act 1961 Found market in China for prairie wheat Created National Productivity Council 1963 Expanded old age pensions Introduced simultaneous translation in House of Commons Birth and Death Born September 18, 1895 in Neustadt, Ontario. John Diefenbaker moved with his family to Fort Carlton, NWT in 1903 and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1910. Died August 16, 1979 in Ottawa, Ontario.

Education BA, MA, LL.B - University of Saskatchewan Professional Career Lieutenant, 105th Saskatoon Fusiliers 1916-17 Political Party Prince Albert 1953-79 Political Career of John Diefenbaker John Diefenbaker was elected Leader of the Saskatchewan Conservative Party in 1936, but the party did not win any seats in the 1938 provincial election. He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1940. John Diefenbaker was elected Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 1956, and was Leader of the Opposition from 1956 to 1957. The Conservatives won a minority government in the 1957 general election, defeating Louis St. Laurent and the Liberals. John Diefenbaker was sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada in 1957. In the 1958 general election, the Conservatives won a majority government. The Conservatives were back to a minority government in the 1962 general election.

The Conservatives lost the 1963 election and John Diefenbaker became Leader of the Opposition. Lester Pearson became Prime Minister. John Diefenbaker was replaced as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada by Robert Stanfield in 1967. John Diefenbaker remained a member of parliament until three months before his death in 1979. See Also:

Question: On July 1st 1867 Sir John A. Macdonald became the first Prime Minister of which country?
Answer: Canada